Gandhinagar: Gujarat government has succeeded in getting USDA-APHIS approval for its Gujarat Agro Radiation Processing Facility (GARPF) in Bavla, Dist. Ahmedabad. This will give a big boost to the export of Mangoes from Gujarat to the USA.

USDA-APHIS team facilitated by the National Plant Protection Organization (NPPO) conducted an audit of GARPF. After the audit, USDA-APHIS approved the plant at Bavla on 02/07/2022. This is the first plant in Gujarat to get USDA-APHIS approval for the export of Mangoes & Pomegranates.

As per the norms, irradiation of mangoes is mandatory before exporting them to the USA. The irradiation process is conducted under the supervision of quarantine inspectors from the US. Mangoes will be exported directly from Gujarat after this approval.

Gujarat Agro Industries Corporation Ltd (GAIC) a state government enterprise has set up a 1,000 Kilo-Curie(kCi) Multipurpose: split type, palletized radiation processing facility for agricultural and processed food products at Bavla in Ahmedabad district under Rashtriya Krushi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) at an approx. cost of Rs. 20 Crores in 2014.
The facility was implemented under the guidance and technical support of the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), and the Board of Radiation and Isotope Technology (BRIT).

This is the only facility in India which can irradiate products like onion, potato, cereals, pulses, Psyllium husk, pet food, meat, spices, dehydrated onions/dry vegetables, meat products including poultry, eggs and medical products at a low, medium and high dose as per the requirement.

Shri D. K. Parekh, IAS, Managing Director, Gujarat Agro Industries Corporation Ltd. was present during the audit. He spoke about the importance of the facility to the audit team. He added that the Government of India has declared Kutch as a Mango Cluster under the Cluster Development Scheme and thus this facility will go a long way to support the exports of mangoes from Gujarat.

Gujarat Agro Industries Corporation Ltd. is the owner of three key Infrastructure facilities (required for export of Mangoes) like Integrated Pack House, Gamma Irradiation Facility and Perishable Air Cargo Complex in one district. After USDA-APHIS approval of the facility, the irradiation facility can leverage the existing infrastructure of the State and synergy can be achieved which eventually maintains the quality of mangoes, and reduce wastage & cost of transportation.

Details of GARPF:-

– The total area of the facility is 6,750 Sq. mtrs & construction area of 2,368 Sq. mtrs with a capacity to irradiate Mangoes @ 6 MT/Hr.

– The facility has two Cold Storage of 30 MT & 50 MT. Automated material handling system with roller bed conveyor and single point loading/unloading of materials. Conveyor speed max 80 boxes/hrs.

– The facility has been set up at the strategic location on National Highway No. 8. The distance from the facility to Integrated Pack House, Naroda is 60 Km, Perishable Cargo Complex Ahmedabad Airport is 50 km, Piapavav Port is 265 km, Kandla Port is 292 km, Mundra Port is 335 km and Mumbai is 555 km.

– The facility has been approved by Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) and National Plant Protection Organization (NPPO) and has a license from FSSAI & FDA for distribution of class A & B medical Products. It is ISO 9001:2015, ISO 22000:2018 and ISO 13485:2016 certified facility.

– With the upcoming Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC), this facility can be used for radiation/processing produce of northern hinterlands and then exported from Gujarat.

In 2019-20, Maharashtra exported approx. 980 MT irradiated mangoes to USA in which as per estimates 50% to 60% mangoes were from Gujarat because of non-availability of USDA-APHIS approved irradiation plant in the state.

DeshGujarat